A community campaign group has written to every councillor in Edinburgh asking them to oppose the sale of any part of Inverleith Park.

More than 4,400 people have signed petitions in shops, libraries and online protesting against the sale of part of the park, opposite the Botanic Garden.

With the City of Edinburgh Council under pressure to cut costs and generate income, it has consolidated all of Edinburgh's park depot operations into one facility, leaving the Inverleith Park depot "surplus to requirement."

The council has confirmed it is "looking at ways of delivering best value from this asset." Local housing developer GVA Grimley is working on a planning application for what the council calls "high quality, low density residential development," accessed from Arboretum Place.

Campaigners argue the land belongs to the public under Common Good land rights. The council says it is not recorded as being Common Good land but is investigating further. It said "certain properties not held on the Common Good account may still qualify as Common Good land."

'Priceless for the community'

Despite reports that the site was worth £9 million, a council spokesman said the site was more likely to be worth around £3m. The depot contains a training centre, carpark and storage areas.

"It's the most wonderful site with views of Edinburgh Castle, the city and the Pentlands. We want to protect that forever.

"The council has hit a hornets' nest here. There is very strong feeling about this locally. I'm staggered by the amazing response from local people and businesses.

"The local post office is hoovering through dozens of petitions, they can't get enough of them. People have taken this campaign to their hearts because there are literally thousands of us who do not want to see housing there.

"Of course, we're not totally naive and know the council needs to make money in these dire financial times. But the recession will not last forever. The park is priceless for the community and there are things it needs too, like toilets, more allotment space or a cafe."

Debate over land status

The council insists the depot is not part of the park. It says it was identified in the 2010 Edinburgh City Local Plan as being "outwith the open space designation at Inverleith Park."

But Cook says the corner of the park in question was recently redesignated as urban space rather than open space, meaning it could be sold for development. It is claimed this change was made in the Edinburgh Local Plan 2010 - after consultation closed.

Cook added:

"The council is trying to say it's not part of the park. But everyone knows it is and always has been. We had a very touching note from the man who lived in the farmhouse there and he had always felt it was very much part of the park.

"We will still be campaigning until we are assured that the whole site in question will remain as part of the public park and also that the process which enabled this area to be designated as urban space rather than open space is changed.

"The re-designation appears to have taken place in the Edinburgh Local Plan 2010 at a late stage and after consultation. The general public would have had no sense of the significance of this minor looking change of colour on a small section of a very large map. No sense that it might enable the land, which is integral to the park and surrounded on all sides by green open space, to be sold off for housing development.

"It really is a place we've got to fight for otherwise it's the thin edge of the wedge."

Further consultation in spring

Edinburgh council says Inverleith Park's depot is no longer needed

Asked about the status of the depot, the council confirmed it is still investigating whether Inverleith Park and the depot form part of the city's Common Good land. It said:

"Neither site has been recorded as part of Common Good asset or held on the council's Common Good account.

"However, certain properties not held on the Common Good account may still qualify as Common Good land. Therefore, the council is investigating the Common Good status of Inverleith Park and the depot and a decision is expected shortly.

"It should be noted that the council does not consider the depot as having the same status as Inverleith Park and both will be treated separately in any consideration of possible Common Good status."